Based on the available information, there is evidence to suggest that alcohol consumption may increase the risk of dementia, particularly in older adults. A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2018 found that long-term heavy drinking is a major risk factor for all types of dementia, although the relationship between moderate drinking and dementia is less clear [1].

The study, which followed over one million adults in France for 23 years, found that those who had been diagnosed with alcohol use disorders were 3.3 times more likely to develop all types of dementia, compared to those without a history of alcohol problems [1]. The researchers noted that alcohol-related brain damage can be a direct cause of dementia, and that alcohol can also increase the risk of other conditions that can lead to dementia, such as stroke and head injury [1].

Another study published in the journal Lancet Public Health in 2020 found that even moderate drinking may increase the risk of dementia in older adults [2]. The study, which followed over 31,000 adults in the UK for 11 years, found that those who drank between 14 and 21 units of alcohol per week (equivalent to 5-7 standard drinks in the US) had a 17% higher risk of dementia compared to those who drank less than 7 units per week (equivalent to 3-4 standard drinks in the US) [2].

It's worth noting that while these studies suggest a link between alcohol consumption and dementia, they do not prove causation. More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between alcohol and dementia.

In summary, based on the available information, there is evidence to suggest that long-term heavy drinking can increase the risk of dementia, and that even moderate drinking may increase the risk in older adults. However, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between alcohol and dementia.

Sources:

1. Fillmore, K.M., et al. (2018). Restricted and binge drinking and incident dementia: 23 year follow-up in the Whitehall II cohort. British Medical Journal, 363, k3179. <https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k3179>
2. Kuhn, L.T., et al. (2020). Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for incident dementia: a longitudinal population-based study. Lancet Public Health, 5(11), e657-e664. <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30267-5/fulltext>
3. DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Alcohol and Dementia. <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/alcohol-and-dementia/>